Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Redbelt was chosen as the gala premiere for the Tribeca/ESPN sports film festival in New York and according to ESPN it was not your average festival opening. I guess that's what happens when you get fighters and artists in the same room, add alcohol and maybe a few b-list celebs.

"NEW YORK -- How to kick off a sports film festival: Take one totally off-the-wall David Mamet movie, add celebrity sycophants, a hint of paranoia and some anxious mixed martial artists, then liberally dump in overmatched security goons, the world's most famous magician, Steve Martin, Smash Williams and a dude who's lived with a fatwa over his head for the better part of two decades, and stir. Then, of course, turn away from this dangerous concoction -- pointing in any direction, really -- and run for your friggin' life." Full article here.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Sam Alipour of ESPN.com has written one of the best articles yet about Redbelt, the philosophy of jiu jitsu, and its importance to those involved in the film.

"'Redbelt' is Mamet's love letter to this nondescript building along a sun-bleached slab of Ocean Park Boulevard, the men who sweat here and its purveyor, Renato Magno, a BJJ black belt and Mamet's teacher of six years. It's why the notoriously private Mamet, also a celebrated playwright, fire-breathing essayist and a purple belt, has agreed to guide me into his safe haven where, it seems, only two rules apply: Remove your shoes and leave the outside on the outside."